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Oregon Territory

April 28, 2006 — Psychological Impact of War, Terror, and Compassion

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While the psychological effects on soldiers at war is a frequent topic of discussion, less often explored is the psychological impact on civilians who are thousands of miles away.

Civilian response to natural and human-caused disasters is very complicated. Whether it’s a big historical events like the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, or massive natural events such as a tsunami or earthquake, the psychological impact on humans is tremendous.

How we handle those strong feelings and act on them can be an even bigger influence on our national psyche. From torture to genocide to war in Iraq, this week we’re examining the psychohistory of violence that occurs during and after large historical events. We’ll also explore the difference impact on humans of natural disasters such as hurricanes compared to human-caused events such as war.

Host: Christy George

Report by Rob Manning on local efforts—including a medical facility for torture victims—to address violence in the world.

Guests: Dr. Robert J. Lifton, psychiatrist who lectures at Harvard Medical School and is a past director of the Center on Violence and Human Survival at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. Lifton’s latest books include “Superpower Syndrome: America’s Apocalyptic Confrontation with the World”. He also co-edited “Crimes of War: Iraq”.

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